[Aluminum lung as an occupational disease. Case reports].

The cases are examined of 13 males, mean age 53, granted disability pensions by the Turin I.N.A.I.L. in 1975-86 as suffering from lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust and exhalation of aluminium. The patients had worked in bauxite smelting for Al2O3 production and the preparation of synthetic abrasives (8 cases), in milling using synthetic abrasives (1 case) in the cold grinding of aluminium for paint production (3 cases) and in the electrolytic processing of aluminium (1 case). In line with the latest reports in the literature the present series confirms the possibility that interstitial fibrosis can be caused by exposure to aluminium in industries other than bauxite processing. The relatively benign character of modern aluminium lung is also confirmed.